Ski bindings

ABSTRACT

A ski binding jaw fixed on a ski comprises a recess for centrally holding an end of a ski-boot sole above the ski. One of the recess and sole comprises an inclined surface, and the other of the recess and sole comprises an edge adapted to abut and wedge against the inclined surface.

United States Patent 1191 Salomon I 1 SKI BINDINGS [76] v Inventor: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon, Avenue de Loverchy, Annecy,

France [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 139,115

30 Foreign Application Priority Data May 5, 1970 France 7016366 [52] user .Q ..2so/11.3s11 .511 1111.01. A63'c 9/00 5 Fleld'of Search 280/11.35 R, 11.35 T,

280/1135 11,11-35 D, 11.35 A, 11.13 W

[561- I A References I I UNlTED STATES PATENTS -3,6l0,649 10/1971 Axthammer 280711.351

[ 1 June 26, 1973 3,545,782 12/1970 Salomon 280/1135 T 3,637,227 1/1972 Ramillon 280/1135 T 3,529,844 9/1970 Salomon 280/1135 T 3,570,l48 3/1971 Morgan 36/25 AL Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Robert F. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato 57 ABSTRACT r A ski binding jaw fixed on a ski comprises a recess for centrally holding an end of a ski-boot sole above the ski. One of the recess and sole comprises an inclined surface, and the other of the recess and sole comprises an edge adapted to abut and wedge against the inclined surface.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJUNZG #973 U 1 of 2 I FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to ski bindings and has specific reference to a safety holding or hold-down jaw and ski boot assembly.

It is known that ski bindings, whether of the toe or front jaw type or of the heel hold-down type, comprise as a rule a boot retaining member adapted to engage DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART To be efficient, a device of the type broadly de scribed hereinabove must be such that the vertical position of said retaining member can be adjusted as a function of the sole thickness. In most instancesthis adjustment is made bymeans of a screw and requires aspecial operation performed by the fitter of the ski binding and sometimes by the skier-himself if the binding is utilized with different boots. This adjustment must be effected very carefully for awrong position of the retaining member may cause either an un-desired release of the boot from the binding or, on the contrary, an excessive compressionv of the boot on the ski oron an antifriction device provided onthe ski surface, so that the release effort adjustment effectedby other means may be modified To avoidthis difficultand delicate adjustment, front jaws have already been proposed wherein the retaining member is formed with an inclined face adapted to engage the upper edge of the sole so as to press the sole on the ski ora member 'securedto the ski. Unfortunately, this does not eliminate the possibility of an excessive compressive effort exerted on the boot and therefore modification of the release effort adjustment,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with referenc to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view from above a first embodiment of the assembly;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modified embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a modified embodiment of jaw;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing another modified embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS certain height above the ski surface. A recess 3 of this inasmuch as this compressive effort may increase considerably within a very short time in the case of fall. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly capable of eliminating any vertical adjustment'of a boothblding jaw without introducing any risk of exerting an abnormal hold-down pressure on the boot sole in relation to an underlying ski surface.

According to the in-ventiomthere is provided an assembly comprising a ski,a ski-boot, and a jaw fixed above a main surface of the ski, one end of the ski boot comprising a protruding sole portion, said jaw comprising a recess adapted to hold said soleportion, said recess comprising a lower lip to support said sole portion with said boot spaced apart from said main ski surface, and means on said jaw extending laterally of said ski to center said endof theski boot in relation to the ski, one of the recess and protruding portion comprising a surface inclined in relation to said main ski surface, and the other of the recess and protruding portion comprising an edge adapted to abut and wedge against said inclined surface.

jaw can house an edge of the sole 4 of a ski boot, and comprises an upper face 5 inclined in relation to the main surface of the ski l. The upper edge of the jaw 1 comprises a horizontal marginal portion or lip 6 for preventing the sole from escaping from the jaw. The lower lip 7 of this jaw comprises a substantially horizontal face 8 parallel to the ski surface, and has a bevelled front edge 9 to facilitate the insertion of the sole 4 into the recess 3.

When the sole 4 is introduced into the recess 4 of the jaw l, the upper edge of the sole will abut against the upper inclined face 5 of recess 3 in a longitudinal position depending on the thickness of the ski boot sole 4. In this position, the sole 4 is pressed and wedged against the lower lip 7 of jaw 1. With this arrangement, the ski boot can be properly positioned both laterally (as a consequence of the centering action exerted by the inner side walls of the wings of jaw 1) and vertically, due to the wedging effect produced by the inclination of the upper face 5 of recess 3. Thus, the sole of the ski boot, irrespective of its thickness, lies in a horizontal plane located at a constant height 1 above the I ski surface. For explanatory purposes, a sole thicker than sole 4 is shown in dash and dot lines in FIG. 2; this thicker sole is somewhat retracted in relation to the jaw, in the longitudinal direction, due to the difference in thickness between the two soles.

Of course, any other section taken throughthe jaw illustrated in FIG. 1 along a plane perpendicular to the ski but not axial thereto would have somewhat the same contour as that shown in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper portion 10 of the jaw comprises a flat horizontal inner surface','i.e. a face substantially parallel to the main surface of the ski and it is the lower lip 11 of this jaw that comprises a flat face inclined in relation to the main ski surface. In this embodiment, it is the upper edge of the sole 4 that lies at a constant height in relation to the ski surface, irrespective of the sole thickness. As a result, the level of the lower surface of the skiers boot above the ski surface depends on the thickness of the sole 4, as evidenced by the position of the thicker sole shown in dash and dot lines in the Figure.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing a third emtion, both the upper and lower inner surfaces of the recess 3 are inclined in relation to the main ski surface. The upper portion 13 of this jaw also comprises a marginal portion or lip 14 for preventing the boot from escaping from the binding.

Whichever embodiment is utilized, the front edge of the sole cannot, in any circumstances, engage or abut the back of the jaw recess 3, i.e. the extreme left hand surface of the recess looking at FIG. 2, 3, 5 or 6.

A jaw having the characteristic features of any one of the abovedescribed embodiments may comprise inner walls inclined in relation to the ski surface, both along its central portion and or along its lateral walls.

It will be readily understood that a jaw according to the invention, in conjunction with a cooperating heel or toe binding as the case may be, is capable of automatically holding and positioning the sole of a ski boot in a plane parallel to the ski surface. This positioning plane may vary if the jaw comprises the characteristic features of the second and third embodiments. On the other hand, since the ski boot is not in direct contact with the ski, the holding effect obtained with this device does not interfere with the operation of the safety release mechanism of the ski binding.

Of course, the jaw according to this invention may be fitted to any types of ski binding, whether these are fixed or movable in relation to the ski, and whether the lateral wings of the jaw are fixed or pivoted to the body of the ski binding or to the ski.

Moreover, the inner faces of the recesses which are inclined in relation to the ski surface may be flat or curved.

Furthermore, the jaw could also constitute a member rigid with the toe end of the ski boot and adapted to cooperate with a male component element of a ski bindmg.

In a modified embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a ski boot comprises a projecting sole 15 having an inclined bevelled edge 17 adapted to co-act with the edge 16 or the edges of a jaw recess. The simplest shape of this recess has a rectangular cross-section with lateral walls parallel to the ski surface, as shown.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapted it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising: a ski; a ski-boot having at one end a protruding sole portion; and a jaw fixed above a main surface of said ski, said jaw having therein means defining a recess (adapted to hold) for holding said sole portion, said recess defined by a lower lip supporting thereon said sole portion in a position wherein said boot is spaced apart from the main ski surface, said lip extending laterally of a longitudinal center line of said ski and including means for centering said one end of the ski boot in relation to said center line, one of said lip and said protruding sole portion having inclined surfaces spaced laterally apart from said center line and inclined in relation to said main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line, and the other of said lip and said protruding sole portion having edges spaced laterally apart from and oblique in relation to said center line and in abutment with and wedging against said inclined surfaces.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein lateral parts of an upper surface of said lower lip are inclined to the main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line, and wherein said recess is further defined by an upper wall extending parallel to said main ski surface.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recess is further defined by an upper wall having lateral parts inclined in relation to said main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line, and wherein lateral parts of an upper surface of said lower lip are also inclined in relation to said main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inclined surfaces are planar.

5. A ski binding jaw for releasably holding an end portion of a ski boot on a ski comprising: a jaw body connectable in a working position to a ski during use of the ski binding jaw and having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a recessed portion between said top and bottom surfaces configured to receive therein and releasably hold in place an end portion of a ski boot, said recessed portion defined by a first surface extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski when said jaw body is in said working position and a pair of second surfaces each extending outwardly from one transverse end of said first surface in diverging directions with respect to each other, each second surface having an inclined upper surface portion extending upwardly towards said top surface and inwardly towards the recess to define a pair of upper wedging surfaces and each second surface having an inclined lower surface portion extending downwardly towards said bottom surface and inwardly towards the recess to define a pair of lower wedging surfaces cooperative with said upper wedging surfaces to effect centering and wedging in place of the ski boot end portion; whereby a ski boot to be held in place on a ski may be inserted and centered in said recessed portion with an end portion of the ski boot wedged and held in a centered position between said upper and lower wedging surfaces when said jaw body is connected in said working position to the ski thereby enabling ski boots of different sizes to be held by said ski binding jaw.

6. A ski binding jaw according to claim 5; wherein said upper and lower wedging surfaces are planar.

7. A ski binding jaw according to claim 5; wherein each second surface has a planar surface midportion in between its inclined upper and lower surface portions.

8. A ski binding jaw according to claim 5; including a lip extending outwardly from and transversely along said jaw body at a location between said top surface and the recess for preventing the end portion of a ski boot from escaping from said recessed portion.

II t i I t 

1. An assembly comprising: a ski; a ski-boot having at one end a protruding sole portion; and a jaw fixed above a main surface of said ski, said jaw having therein means defining a recess (adapted to hold) for holding said sole portion, said recess defined by a lower lip supporting thereon said sole portion in a position wherein said boot is spaced apart from the main ski surface, said lip extending laterally of a longitudinal center line of said ski and including means for centering said one end of the ski boot in relation to said center line, one of said lip and said protruding sole portion having inclined surfaces spaced laterally apart from said center line and inclined in relation to said main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line, and the other of said lip and said protruding sole portion having edges spaced laterally apart from and oblique in relation to said center line and in abutment with and wedging against said inclined surfaces.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein lateral parts of an upper surface of said lower lip are inclined to the main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line, and wherein said recess is further defined by an upper wall extending parallel to said main ski surface.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recess is further defined by an upper wall having lateral parts inclined in relation to said main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line, and wherein lateral parts of an upper surface of said lower lip are also inclined in relation to said main ski surface and oblique in relation to said center line.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inclined surfaces are planar.
 5. A ski binding jaw for releasably holding an end portion of a ski boot on a ski comprising: a jaw body connectable in a working position to a ski during use of the ski binding jaw and having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a recessed portion between said top and bottom surfaces configured to receive therein and releasably hold in place an end portion of a ski boot, said recessed portion defined by a first surface extEnding transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski when said jaw body is in said working position and a pair of second surfaces each extending outwardly from one transverse end of said first surface in diverging directions with respect to each other, each second surface having an inclined upper surface portion extending upwardly towards said top surface and inwardly towards the recess to define a pair of upper wedging surfaces and each second surface having an inclined lower surface portion extending downwardly towards said bottom surface and inwardly towards the recess to define a pair of lower wedging surfaces cooperative with said upper wedging surfaces to effect centering and wedging in place of the ski boot end portion; whereby a ski boot to be held in place on a ski may be inserted and centered in said recessed portion with an end portion of the ski boot wedged and held in a centered position between said upper and lower wedging surfaces when said jaw body is connected in said working position to the ski thereby enabling ski boots of different sizes to be held by said ski binding jaw.
 6. A ski binding jaw according to claim 5; wherein said upper and lower wedging surfaces are planar.
 7. A ski binding jaw according to claim 5; wherein each second surface has a planar surface midportion in between its inclined upper and lower surface portions.
 8. A ski binding jaw according to claim 5; including a lip extending outwardly from and transversely along said jaw body at a location between said top surface and the recess for preventing the end portion of a ski boot from escaping from said recessed portion. 